Resumen

HERRERA BATISTA, Aleida; RUIZ CANDINA, Héctor  y  MARTINEZ BETANCOURT, Ayní. Characterization of the use of psychoactive drugs by adolescents and young adults cared for at the Adolescents' Rehabilitation Center, municipality of Playa. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2014, vol.33, n.1, pp.61-69. ISSN 0864-0300.

Introduction: recent decades have witnessed an increase in the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs, particularly by certain social groups. In Cuba the number of alcohol users has risen among people aged 15 years and over, and similar behavior could be expected from the use of other drugs. Objective: characterize the use of psychoactive drugs by adolescents and young addicts cared for at the Adolescents' Rehabilitation Center, municipality of Playa. Methods: the sample was composed of 43 patients: adolescents aged 13-16 and 17-19 and young adults aged 20-25 and 26-29. Their medical records were analyzed to determine the types of drugs they used: initial and maintenance drug. The EMTAJOVEN survey was used as an empirical method to determine smokers. Results: it was found that the largest number of addicts were in the 20-25 age group, and that consumption predominantly started in the 17-19 age bracket. Thirty six patients consumed two, three or more drug types, with similar figures for both sexes. The most common initial and maintenance drug was marijuana, followed by alcohol. The EMTAJOVEN survey revealed a large number of smokers. Conclusions: late adolescence was found to be the period when drug dependence starts in most cases. Most users consume more than one drug, with marijuana as the most common initial and maintenance drug. It is suggested that treatment include smoking cessation as one more step in the rehabilitation process.

Palabras clave : drug dependence; psychoactive drugs; multiple consumption; adolescence; youth; marijuana; alcohol; smoking.

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